Inland Lakes baseball earns non-league sweep

INDIAN RIVER - After pounding out 17 hits in a 14-2 mercy-rule shortened victory in the opener Monday, Inland Lakes completed the high school baseball sweep of Boyne City in dramatic fashion.

Jordan Hanel hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning to lift the Bulldogs to a 5-3 win in game two. Hanel hit a 1-0 pitch deep over the centerfield fence as the Bulldogs improved to 12-2 overall.

"It was a good couple of wins for our kids," Inland Lakes coach Buddy Hanel said.

Hanel also singled and finished with four RBI, while Doug Elliott doubled and Austin Swadling singled. Swadling struck out seven and allowed two hits for the win.

Steven Kolb earned the win the opener as he struck out five and gave up four hits in four innings.

Hanel and Swadling each had two singles and a double to lead Inland Lakes at the plate, while Jake Osier had two doubles; Elliott and C.J. Flock both doubled and singled; Ben Connelly had two hits; Kolb tripled; and Austin Morse, playing in his first varsity contest, had a two-run single.

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Central Lake 12-0, Harbor Light 11-4

CENTRAL LAKE - Central Lake took advantage of four Harbor Light errors in the first inning and scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch to take the opener of a non-league doubleheader Monday.

The loss was just the second of the season for the Swordsmen, ranked No. 2 in the Division IV state coaches poll, as they fall to 13-2-1.

"We just got in a hole the first couple of innings and didn't play that well," Harbor Light coach Tom DeKorte said. "We were sloppy and we have to play error-free. Hopefully, when it comes down to districts, we won't have those errors."

Mark Fila took the loss in the opener in relief of Brant Cole. Cole gave up 11 runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out three. Collin Hewitt struck out two and walked one in three innings of relief.

Mark Fila had a three-run homer and a single for Harbor Light, David Klevorn doubled and single, Nathan Cook had two hits, and Brant Cole and Ben Cole each singled.

Mark Fila struck out three, walked one and allowed just one hit for the win in the nightcap, which was called after three innings because of darkness.

ONAWAY - Tyler Armantrout had three hits and Pellston exploded for eight runs in the second inning in the nightcap to earn a Ski Valley Conference split.

Also for Pellston, 8-9 overall, 2-4 league, in the second game, Branden Lewis singled and doubled, James Boelter had two hits and drove in four runs, Justin Warner added two hits, while Josh Schmalzried singled.

Garrett Hunt struck out three and allowed seven hits for the win. Jordan Lewis allowed one hit and struck out two in 2 1-3 innings in relief.

In the opener, Pellston committed three errors during a four-run Onaway fifth inning. Pellston finished with five errors in the game.

"Aaron (Minzey) pitched well enough to win the game, but we didn't play any defense behind him," Pellston coach Randy Bricker Jr. said.

Minzey pitched all six innings and fanned two, walked one and gave up four hits.

Hunt singled and doubled, Warner tripled and Boelter, Schmalzried and Jake Burkhart each singled for the Hornets.

Ellsworth 6-8, Bellaire 9-1

BELLAIRE - Tyler Essenberg struck out 10 and walked one in throwing a three-hitter in the opener to lead the Lancers in game one of a non-league doubleheader.

Essenberg and Sean Kiernan had two hits apiece for the Lancers, while Jordan Muma and Corbin Cassio each singled.

Essenberg and Muma each took a turn on the mound in game two, combining to strike out 10.

Essenberg had three hits and three RBI, while Dalton Swenson had three hits including a triple to lead the Lancers at the plate.

Also for Ellsworth, 5-7, Robert Gruse had two hits and an RBI, while Muma, Nate Peterson and Jeff Sutherland had two hits each.